Thursday, July 07, 2011

Shhhh - New SIS Powers

One of the joys of living in a liberal democracy is that we have a vast range of civil liberties. One of those liberties is the right to dress how we bloody well like. If I want to walk up the road in a chicken suit I have every right to. I have no issue what so ever with women who choose to wear a burqa, welcome to NZ.

Now do I personally think that when Muhammed was asked how people should dress and he replied with modesty, did I think he meant a full burqa as modest? Well no, no I don't, but this ain't my religion and it sure as bloody hell isn't up to me to tell Muslims how to interpret theirs. Tolerance and acceptance of our differences goes further to strengthen our society than persecution and suspicion ever will.

The SIS in the past determined the sex lives of Green Party members were a security issue that required spying, why the bloody hell would we trust them with more powers when they cant responsibly use the ones they currently have.

The speed and secrecy with which these powers were rushed through means not only as NZers do we have to put up with the massive cost of hosting the Rugby World Cup alongside the terrible spike in domestic violence and sexual assaults, we also have to put up with Police using the Rugby World Cup as an excuse to spy and intimidate Mana Party members and Union Unite members.

The Government should be thankful that we are more tolerant of them and their naked grabs for power that erode our civil liberties than NZ Bus were of a veiled Muslim woman.